Surrogate Parent

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What's Required
The local education agency (LEA), must take steps to ensure parent participation in the Admission, Review, and Dismissal/Individualized Education Program (ARD/IEP) process and have afforded the opportunity for parent participation. In the event the parent(s) of a child eligible for special education services are not known, the child is a ward of the State or the child is an unaccompanied homeless youth, the LEA must determine whether or not a surrogate parent is warranted.

The LEA must also ensure that surrogate parents are selected in accordance with federal and state guidelines prior to representing children with disabilities in the ARD/IEP process. Once appointed, the surrogate parent is afforded all the same rights, to make educational decisions and access educational records as the natural parent(s).

Children in the conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) may be appointed a surrogate parent by the overseeing judge. In this case the LEA must ensure the surrogate parent selected complies with the same regulations in accordance with federal nad state guidelines as indicated in the previous paragraph. Children placed in foster group homes and foster care homes by TDFPS may be represented by the Foster Parent(s) if they parents meet the criteria and complete the required training. Children placed in residential group-care facilities by TDFPS must be appointed a surrogate parent.

Once a child turns 18 years or older, the child is legally an adult and is his/her own education decision maker regardless of functioning level or type of disability. If a court determines that the individual is legally incompetent then the court appointed guardian is the legal decision maker.


What We Do
At the Time of Enrollment

Who Needs a Surrogate Parent
  • no parent can be identified;
  • the public agency, even after reasonable efforts, cannot locate a parent;
  • the child is a ward of the State; or
  • the child is an unaccompanied homeless youth.

Procedure for Completing the Request for a Surrogate Parent
  • Complete one form per student.
  • The SpEd. Department Chairperson completes the SharePoint RFM Data Collection and Surrogate Parent Verification Form.
  • Provide any additional attachments (Form 2085) on the SharePoint site.
  • Once the request is received, the RFM Data Collection and Surrogate Parent Verification form will be reviewed, and notification will be sent to the campus if a surrogate parent is required.
  • The appointment of surrogate parents should occur not more than 30 days after the identification of the need for a surrogate parent.
    • If a surrogate parent is needed;
      • The OSES will assign a surrogate parent.
      • The OSES will send the Special Education Department Chairperson an Appointment of a Surrogate Parent email.
      • Documents are placed in the student's eligibility folder and submitted to the Office of Special Education through the SharePoint Foster Parent Verification Form Submission
      • Campus contacts the surrogate parent.

Surrogate Parent Appointments
  • Residential Group-Care Facility;
    • It’s a conflict of interest for the facility to act as parent in the ARD/IEP process.
    • The representative from the residential facility and/or the DFPS case worker:
      • Do not have an agreement status on the IEP Team
      • Provide needed information about the students’ background and other relevant information that may help develop the IEP.
    • The facility should sign as “other participant” on the IEP signature page and the surrogate parent should sign as "parent".
    • Invite the facility to all ARD/IEP meetings and encourage collaboration with the assigned surrogate parent and ARD-Committee in the educational decision making process.
    • Inform the parent of any relevant information that may affect the student’s performance in school.
    • Provide the Surrogate Parent with educational records, including IEP documents, report cards, progress reports, suspension notices, and information on extracurricular events and activities (if they are given to all parents).
    • Keep a record of communication of interactions with the surrogate parent. Document on the Parent Communication Form in the Eligibility Folder.


  • Relatives and other Kinship Caregivers;
    • The type of placement will determine if a surrogate parent is warranted.

  • Unaccompanied Homeless Youth;
    • If the student is residing with an adult willing to represent the student as parent, a surrogate parent is not warranted. Otherwise, a surrogate parent is warranted.
    • If the student is an unaccompanied homeless youth;
    • If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact your campus program specialist or the OSES.
Forms

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